Shopping Tips for a Multifunction Printer
Whether it is for business or personal use, a quality multifunction laser printer can be a great choice. While a traditional laser printer can be an excellent tool, a multifunction machine adds some additional benefits, including the ability to scan documents, make copies and even send and receive faxes. That means that both individuals and businesses may be able to replace three or four machines with a single unit. A multifunction laser printer can be an excellent choice for home or business use, but only if you know what to look for.
Cost of the Unit
When evaluating a multifunction laser printer be sure to do a cost benefit analysis. In order to determine if a multifunction printer is really the best choice it is important to compare the cost of such a unit to the cost of a standalone laser printer, scanner, copier and fax machine. If the cost of the multifunction unit is considerably lower than the combined cost of the units it replaces then a multifunction printer is the best way to go.
Cost of Consumables
The purchase price of the multifunction laser printer does not tell the entire story. A low upfront price can quickly be overcome by the high cost of consumables like toner cartridges, fuser cartridges and paper. When shopping for any type of laser printer it is important to look at the cost of the supplies you will be using. Pay careful attention to whether or not you will be able to use remanufactured or generic toner cartridges – those cartridges can be less than half the price of new ones. In addition the cost of consumables can vary quite a bit from brand to brand and model to model so be sure to price those toner cartridges and fusers before you decide on a printer.
Reliability
Reliability is a key consideration when shopping for a multifunction laser printer. Printer repairs can be quite costly, and modern printers can be difficult for the do it yourselfer to repair. When choosing a printer for business use it is best to stick to well known name brands like HP, Lexmark, Canon and others. It will generally be much easier to find repair information for these major brands, and there will also be a greater number of experienced technicians available to repair those printers when something goes wrong. In addition it will be easier to find competitive prices on consumables for these name brand printers, since more stores will carry these products. In the end a name brand printer can actually have a lower total cost of ownership.
Whether you are choosing a printer for your home or your business it is essential to take the entire package into consideration – not just the up front cost of the unit but what it will take to keep it up and running for years to come.
by beconrad
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